It's all in in the pronunciation!!!

[Miss Lee]

So I went to my italian class tonight and the instructor paired us in groups of 2 for a friendly verbal competition. She was trying to decide on a prize for the winners, something she would bring to class the following week. I thought I was very cool when I made a suggestion, in italian. I was sure the teacher would be so impressed with my incredible vocabulary and pronunciation skills, but instead she was laughing... hysterically!! I'm thinking, what's so funny!? She proceeded to write 2 words on the blackboard, BACHI and BACI. Baci means kiss and there's an italian version of a chocolate kiss called baci. What I asked for was the other word--BACHI--which means WORMS!!!!!

BACI is pronounced bAhchee, and bachi sounds like bAhkee. I messed up the pronunciation. The bright side is I'll never forget how to say "kiss" in italian! (or worm ;( )

ETA that I told her the bachi could serve as a booby prize!

Michele

 

[kathryn]

>ETA that I told her the bachi could serve as a booby prize!

Or gummy worms!

LOL!

That ch + i/e = k , c + i/e = Ch could be confusing at first. Just remember "ciao" (pronounced "chow").

When I taught Spanish, several students wouldn't always pronounce the ñ but used "n" sometimes(like the guy who sings "Piña Colada" in IMAX2 as "peena colada"). Instead of saying "I am 18 years old" ("tengo 18 años") they ended up saying "I have 18 rectums" ("tengo 18 anos"). The same with asking how old someone is ("Cuantos años..")vs how many rectums they have ("Cuantos anos..")!

 

[Miss Lee]

ROFLMAO!!!!

I'm so glad I didn't say THAT!!! Of course, who wants 50 anos?

ETA the next time someone provokes me my retort might be "baci mi anos!!}(

Michele

 

[kathryn]

How about in French, the verbe "baiser," which means "to kiss" when used with a body part (baiser la main = to kiss one's hand, etc.), when used alone means "to f****"). So students who don't know the nuances (or who look the word up in a small dictionary and don't pay attention to the context) say "Le prince baise la princesse"!

 

[amyg]

Rather than what? Le prince baise la bouche de la princesse??

 

[kathryn]

>Rather than what? Le prince baise la bouche de la
>princesse??

"Le prince embrasse la princesse" or "le prince donne un baiser à la princesse"

 

[amyg]

You are a constant reminder that I really want to go to France someday.

I can't believe I never knew the word for "kiss". Eight + years of study!!

Oh well, either way, she's a lucky princesse!! Thanks Kathryn! (Have I also mentioned I enjoy you and what you have to say 3,257,685% more than any other French professor??)

 

[kathryn]

Have I also mentioned I enjoy you and what you have
>to say 3,257,685% more than any other French professor??


That's both good for me...and bad for them!;-)